Christy Clark to face seven challengers in B.C. byelection

VANCOUVER – There are seven candidates challenging B.C. Premier Christy Clark in a byelection race for the seat in Westside-Kelowna.

Advanced polling doesn’t begin until July 3, although voters can cast ballots at any time between now and the July 10 byelection at the local electoral district office.

Nominations closed at 1 p.m. Saturday, and Clark will be joined on the ballot by candidates for the NDP, B.C. Vision party, the B.C. Conservative party and four independents.

The seat was vacated by MLA Ben Stewart, in order to allow Clark to run in a safe riding after she led her party to an unexpected victory in the May 14 election, but failed to win her own seat of Vancouver-Point Grey.

Clark will be up against New Democrat Carole Gordon, an elementary school teacher who lost to Stewart in May.

The Liberals won 49 of 85 seats in May, while the New Democrats won 34, the B.C. Greens, one, and one Independent.